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W. H. ODWYER.

SMOKERS TRAY wiiolnw 'er (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

- W. H. ODWYER. V

SMOKERS TRAY. No. 517,528.; Patented Apr S, 1 894.

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JNrT D STATES l/VILLIAM H. ODWYER,

ATENT FFICE.

OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SMOKERS TRAY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 517,528, dated April 3, 1894.

Application filed August 29. 1893.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. ODWYER, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Smokers Trays, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in trays or receptacles for various uses; and it consists substantially in such features thereof as will hereinafter b more particularly described.

The object of the invention is to provide a suitable tray or receptacle which may be applied to various uses of the household as well as public places as stores, cafes, and the like generally. The principal object or purpose for which the invention isintendedhowever, is as a tray or receptacle for holding unburned matches and cigars, as well also as lighted cigars, and burned cigars and matches.

The invention also has for its object to pro-' vide a tray or. receptacle for the purpose named which can be made at aoomparatively small cost, and one also which can be very easily and quickly made, substantially as will more fully hereinafter appear taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a tray or receptacle as constructed in accordance with myinvention. Fig. 2 is a top or plan view thereof 5 and Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation taken on the line :t-x, of the preceding figure. Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views representing difierent ways in which the removable cover or rest for lighted cigars may be removed as required in use, and as will hereinafter appear. Fig. 6 is a View in perspective of another form, showing the outer compartments as triangular instead of rounded.

I may form my improved tray or receptacle of any suitable material such as china, earthenware, tin, or other sheet metal; and for the more expensive, I may construct them of other suitable metal and afterward coat or wash them with nickel or other plating. Papier mach could also be conveniently employed in some instances, and said tray or receptacle furthermore might bemade by molding or pressing the same into the desired shape. However the particular mode of man- Serial No. 484,275. (No model.)

herein shown the same in plain outline or figure.

In practice, I preferably construct the tray or receptacle of a central or main compartment which is bounded on its sides by preferably four outer additional compartments, although it is obvious that the particular number of the latter may be varied. Preferably one or two of said outer compartments are provided with a suitable rest for supporting lighted cigars during the intervals that smokers may desire to lay them down; and such rests are preferably made in the shape of removable covers or plates, and one or both of them provided with a roughened surface upon which to scratch matches, but instead of roughening said surfaces, a piece of sand paper or the like maybe employed asa scratching pad. In other instances instead of making the rests themselves removable, I may make the scratching pad removable, and in this way whenever the latter becomes worn, it may be readily replaced by another, and also by removing such pad when desired the tray can be conveniently washed or cleaned.

In some instances, 1 may not use the central compartment; and, instead of making the covers of the closed compartments entirely removable, I may hinge them in place, and-then too, instead of arranging the scratching surfaces or pads on the outer sides of said covers, I may arrange them on the inner or under sides thereof. In either case the several compartments may be used for whatever purpose desired. The lids in each instance are slightly dished 'or concaved to hold a cigar conveniently, and one or more ofthe compartments is provided with a cross rod to be used for knocking the ashes from a cigar.

In the accompanying drawings, 1, represents my improved combination tray or receptacle in entirety or as a whole. The said tray or receptacle is shown in the present instance as constructed of tin or like metal, and, as shown, is constituted of a central or main compartment 2, and four outer compartments 3, which latter bound the former on its four sides. The said outer compartments are divided from the central or main compartment by the partitions 4, 4, 4:, 4, as shown, and their outer sides or walls are preferably curved or rounded at 5, so as to dispense with corners and edges which would require to be soldered or otherwise secured together were such sides or walls made square or rectangular. It is obvious that the particular number of the outer compartments may be varied, and also that their particular shape could be changed to suit the taste orconvenience in making the same. Thus as shown in Fig. 6, the walls of said compartments are straight and converge toward each other to a point. In each instance, I employ a cross rod 1 across either the central compartment or one of the outer ones, which is for knocking the ashes from a cigar. As shown, two of the outer compartments are each completely covered by a dished or concaved plate 6, which is designed to hold lighted cigars in such manner as that the ashes falling therefrom will be caught or received by the central or main compartment 2; and as will be observed on reference to Figs. 1 and 2, said outer compartments which are so provided, are also provided around their upper edges with inwardly projecting flanges 7, between which and the concaved plates or covers 6 is removably inserted a piece of sand-paper 8 or the like, which furnishes a convenient surface upon which to scratch matches. Instead of so inserting the piece of sand-paper, however, the upper surface of the plate or cover 6 could itself be roughened. From the construction of such plate or cover, it will be seen that a lighted cigar when placed thereon with its lighted end projecting over the main compartment will immediately roll into the center of the plate and find a rest for itself. In order to render such of the outer compartments as may be closed, available. for receiving and holding Various things such as pencils and pen-holders, and the like, I preferably construct the plates or covers 6 removable. This can be done in various ways; thus, as shown in Fig. 4, I form the said plate or cover with a downwardly projecting flange 9 on its edge, which, when the cover is slipped into place will embrace the sides of the compartment in such manner as to be held in place sufflciently tight. In Fig. 5, the removable cover is held in place by means of an inwardly turned flange 10 formed around the edge of the compartment 3, and receiving a corresponding flange 11 on the edge of the plate. In the instances of removable cover described, it is preferable to secure a piece of sand-paper thereon by pasting or otherwise, and which when worn out can readily be removed or torn otf and substituted by a new piece.

From the construction shown and described it is evident that the device can readily be grasped by the hand for removal from one place to another; and also that the same can be readily emptied and washed or cleansed when desired. Such of the outer compartments 3 as may not be provided with a removable cover or plate are intended to be used as receptacles for unburned matches and fresh cigars, as well as burned matches and burned cigars and ends.

Without limiting myself to the precise details shown, I claim- 1. A tray or receptacle for the purposes named, consisting of a central or main compartment, and outer compartments bounding the sides thereof, one or more of which being provided with a dished or concaved cover to constitute a cigar rest, substantiallyas described.

2. A tray or receptacle for the purposes named, consisting of a central or main co|npartment, and outer compartments bounding the sides thereof, one or more of which being provided with a dished or curved cover and having a removable scratching pad, substantially as described.

3. A tray or receptacle for the purposes named, consisting of a central or main compartment and outer compartments bounding the sides thereof, one or more of which latter being provided with an inwardly project ing flange 7, a dished or concaved cover beneath such flange, and a removable scratching pad inserted between said cover and flange, substantially as described.

4. A tray or receptacle for the purposes named consisting of a central or main compartment, and outer compartments bounding the sides thereof, one or more of said latter compartments being provided with a removable cover formed with a downwardly projecting flange embracing the sides of such compartments, substantially as shown and for the purpose described.

5. A tray or receptacle for the purposes named, consisting of a central or main compartment, having the cross rod 1, and outer compartments bounding the sides thereof, one or more of which latter being provided with a dished or concaved cover and an inwardly projecting flange 7, and a removable scratching pad inserted between said cover and flange, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM H. ODWYER.

Witnesses:

F. L. FREEMAN, ALLE N. DOBSON. 

